A few more things to remember about November

- sitting on the bed in my grandkids room, reading stories to them, as they climbed and cuddled around me  (I can still feeling Bear's head on my shoulder).  

- tag-teaming with Julia on Super Mario video games with the kids

- killing hours of time at the airport waiting for my flight by watching more Hallmark movies, editing my phone's picture files, catching up on Primary business, and reading the children's book I got for my 9 year old granddaughter. I wanted to make sure I liked it and yeah, it's really cute.

- doing "Mad Libs" with the kids at school, as a sort of Language Arts lesson, and hearing them crack up at the results.

- watching clips of "The Voice" with Mariah & Ross, and re-discovering Frasier and cracking up together.

- realizing over and over again how Reggie is my partner in all things that are wonderful and all things that are almost too hard to endure. And even though it was October, I still smile about us driving down the highway with me playing Darius Rucker's new album. After about the 3rd time through he declared "no more Darius Rucker, please!" I gave him a break for the rest of the day, but we listened to it again on the way back - ha ha! I especially can't get enough of the song below - no judgement to what anyone elses life has been - it's just a song that makes me count and cling to my blessings.

My Room at the Inn

 It was cute and comfortable and relaxing and safe. After making it over the snowy mountain, and knowing my family was happy and supportive of my having this unexpected, solo-mini-vacation, I absolutely drank it all in. I loved the decor, the atmosphere, and the peace of it all. 

                                                                            THE LOBBY

Even the bedrooms were decorated in Bavarian style

The Inn provided a really good breakfast, serenaded by a live alphorn performance out on the balcony. With those mountains behind him, and the nip in the air - it was just magical!

Gingerbread Season!

 I LOVED walking around Leavenworth! It was so strange to have time to kill, waiting for the best  driving conditions to head back to Julia's. I loved going in so many shops, and even got some Christmas presents and Christmas present ideas. 

I'd have to say my favorite store was the "Gingerbread Factory" (which really was just a store, not a factory). It was decorated so cute and everything looked and smelled wonderful. I indulged in a gingerbread cookie, knowing that when I got home I could make my own gingerbread dolls, gingersnaps and gingerbread itself. My Dad loved gingerbread.

In our heritage project this year Hillary & Audrey had the month of Denmark, and so they got to open half of their present the day after Thanksgiving (a perfect thing for "Velcro Day" after all). I found the cutest red baking dishes & cookie cutters on clearance in January, and some Scandinavian tins and oven mitts from Ikea. I figured they could enjoy using them before Christmas this year. So on Saturday Audrey made a loaf of gingerbread. My Dad would have been so proud! With a huge pile of whipped cream on top, it tasted wonderful - to me anyway. Though most of us in the family love gingersnap cookies, I'm not sure anyone else really likes gingerbread. It isn't as sweet as the cookies, and calls for A LOT of molasses. But as I say, I really liked it and it got me thinking about my Dad, and it was the perfect kickoff to this Gingerbread Season!

Leavenworth, WA

 I shared this on facebook, but am putting it here - because the blog is where I store my memories:

"Woke up in Leavenworth Washington today! I came to WA for my sweet Aunt’s memorial service on Saturday. Julia & Lester & kids came with me, and I stayed with them, which made for a beautiful family weekend. Sunday morning I hit the road by myself. I found an early morning church service and then continued on to Leavenworth, intending to stay for a couple of hours and get back to their place before dark. (They had gone recently so didn’t join me). BUT, one thing on my “NEVER want to do in my life” bucket list is drive in the snow - especially over a mountain pass. But I guess when there is light rain in the towns it means a snowy drive in the mountains. It was soft and beautiful but I was gripping the steering wheel and praying for dear life!

I made it just fine, but called Julia and asked her to check the weather for my drive back. It was going to be snowing into the evening/after dark and she was nervous about it for me. So I called Reggie and asked him to check for hotels in the area. I got a room in a cute little inn, walking distance from the town, and am enjoying an unexpected mini-vacation all by myself. Reggie and all the kids are pretty happy for me. I am now in my room, watching Hallmark Channel Christmas movies and researching Germany, which is our final country of the month for our 2023 heritage project. I will leave at checkout time, walk the town once more and get some treats for the road from the Gingerbread shop and Danish bakery. I plan to be going over the mountain pass during the highest temperature of the day, at 45 degrees. I hope you all enjoy this Thanksgiving Week, wherever you are!"

I am looking forward to blogging about a lot of the particulars before November ends.

Bellevue Botanical Gardens

 Julia & Lester and kids came to Aunt Bonnie's funeral with me, but hurried off to a baptism afterwards. I decided to spend some time checking out the nearby, free, Bellevue Botanical Gardens. My cousin Kelye has posted a lot about this place throughout the years. It was so beautiful! I have really hit the jackpot this year in finding Autumn!